Sylvania: School board suspends 50-mile work limit

The Sylvania board of education agreed to suspend use of their 50-mile limit in contracting for work, after an Ann Arbor firm proposed doing roofing work for well under other bids for the job.

Craig Stough, architect for the roofing project, said that the total for roofing work at Southview High School and Highland Elementary School would be about $840,000, well below the nearly $1.3 million estimated.

Mr. Stough said he had earlier suggested that the board establish a geographical limit so contractors who are awarded jobs with the district are easier to reach if a problem occurs.

He said it seemed a mistake to contract with a company located too far away to save a few hundred dollars.

In this instance, he noted, the savings are substantial and Ann Arbor Roofing Company, Inc. has done other roofing jobs in the area.

He added that union workers are used by the firm and that at least 50 percent of the workforce on the Sylvania job will be local.